Study Guide for GCOM 123 Final Exam

Fundamentals of Communication

Chapter 1: Competent CommunicationWhat are the most common myths about communication?

1. Communication is the cure all2. Communicating is just common sense3. Communication quantity equals quality

Explain the differences between the three models of communication: linear, interactive, and transactional.linear: one way, sender sends a message through a channel to a receiver in an atmosphere of noiseinteractive: back and forth; different from linear because it has feedback, also the different fields of experience of people effects this modeltransactional: says that everyone is a sender and a receiverDefine the basic communication elements contained in the communication models (channel, sender, receiver, message, encode, decode, context, fields of experience, noise, and feedback)sender: persons sending the messagemessage: what the senders wants the receiver to getreceiver: person getting the messagechannel: medium a message is sent throughencode:decode:noise: interference with effective transmission and reception of a message

physical: external, environmental distractions ex. startling soundsphysiological: biological influences ex. sweaty palms, pounding heartpsychological: preconceptions, biases, and assumptionssemantic noise: reflected in word choice that is confusing or distractingfeedback: the receiver's verbal and nonverbal response to the message (not found in the linear model)fields of experience: include our cultural background, ethnicity, geographic location, extent of travel, and general personal experiences accumulated over a lifetime

Explain the two aspects of every message: Content and relationship.Content: what is actually being said or doneRelationship: How the message defines or redefines the association between individualsWhat differentiates a constructive communication climate from a destructive communication climate?ConstructiveOpennessSupportivenessDestructiveClosednessDefensivenessChapter 2: Perception of Self and OthersDefine the perceptual process.Process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting data from our sensesWhat is a perceptual schema (prototype, stereotype, and script)?Mental framework that creates meaningful patterns from stimuli

Prototype: is the most representative example of somethingStereotype: a generalization about a group or category of peopleScript: a predictable sequence of events that indicates what we are expected to do in a given situation

How is self-concept developed (reflected appraisal, significant others, and society)?

Influenced by relationship and communication with others, how people look at you and perceive youReflected appraisal: messages you receive from others that assess your self conceptHow the society you live in evaluates how a person should be has an effect on self concept and self esteemWhat are some of the influences on perception (gender, culture, past experiences, mood, and context)?What is self-disclosure?Process of purposefully revealing to others personal information about yourself that is significant and others would not know unless you told themDefine the concepts of depth and breadth in terms of self-disclosure.Breadth: range of topics discussedDepth: how personal you are when they are discussedWhat are the guidelines for offering and receiving self-disclosure?TrustReciprocity: disclosure is two way streetCultural AppropriatenessSituational AppropriatenessIncremental DisclosureWhy is reciprocal sharing important?One way disclosure creates vulnerabilityDefine the term “self-serving bias”.The tendency to attribute our successful behavior to ourselves but to assign external circumstances to our unsuccessful behaviorWhat is the self-fulfilling prophecy? What does it influence?Acting on an erroneous expectation that produces the expected behavior and confirms the original impressionDefine the process of attribution?Assigning causes to behavior;How does the fundamental attribution error impact competent communication?

What is empathy?Perspective takingEmotional understandingConcern for others

Group CommunicationChapter 10: The Anatomy of Small GroupsDefine what a small group is.Groups are considered “small” if each individual in the group can recognize and interact with every other group memberWhat are the advantages and disadvantages of small groups?Advantages:

Disadvantages

What is cohesion? How is it developed?Cohesiveness: goal of the social dimensionEncouraging compatible membershipDeveloping shared goals that members find challenging and exciting to achieveActually accomplishing important tasks that meet the standards of the goalsDeveloping positive group history of cooperation

Promoting acceptance of all group membersGoal of the social dimensionSocial dimension: relationships between group members and the impact these relationships have on the groupWhat influence does cohesion have on task and social dimensions of small groups?Cohesion is the goal of social dimension and it connects to task dimension because cohesion and productivity are interconnectedWhat are group norms?Norms: rules that indicate what group members have to do, should do, and may not doExplicit: specifically and overtly identify acceptable and unacceptable behaviorImplicit: observable patterns of behavior exhibited by group members that identify acceptable and unacceptable behaviorPURPOSE: Helps achieve group goalsWhat is a small group role?Patterns of expected behavior associated with parts that you play in groupsWhat is the difference between formal and informal roles?Formal roles are assigned to youInformal roles emerge naturally and identify functions not positionsExplain the difference between the three types of informal group roles (maintenance, task, and disruptive)Maintenance: address the social dimension of small groups; main goal is to gain and maintain cohesivenessTask: advance group goal attainmentDisruptive: Me- oriented; serve the individual needs and goals; focuses attention on the individualWhat is leadership? A leader- follower influence process with the goal of producing change that is largely accomplished through competent communicationWhat are the different approaches to leadership (traits, styles, and situational)?Traits: relatively enduring characteristics of a person that highlight differences between people and that are displayed in most situations

Certain negative traits can predict who will not become a leaderCertain traits may be necessary but not efficient to become an effective leader

Situational: some people may be more fit as a leader for different situations and in different contextDefine the major leadership styles (directive or autocratic; participative or democratic; laissez-faire, and situational).Directive: autocratic; puts heavy emphasis on the task dimension with slight attention to the social dimension of groupsParticipant: democratic; places emphasis on both social dimension and task dimension in groupsLaissez-faire: situational; no leadership is exercised at allChapter 11: Effective GroupsExplain the distinctions between a team and a group.A team is always a group but a group is not always a teamAll players of a team are passionately committed to the achievement of their designated goal

What is brainstorming? What is critical to its success?Creative problem solving method characterized by encouragement of even zany ideas, freedom from initial evaluation of potential solutions, and energetic participation from all members

- All members should come prepared with initial ideas- Don’t criticize any idea during the brainstorming process- Encourage freewheeling idea generation- Don’t clarify or discuss ideas during idea generation phase- Record all ideas for future reference- Encourage participation from all members

- Wait to evaluate the idea generated until brainstorming session is completedExplain the steps in the Standard Agenda.Standard Agenda provides one such highly effective structured method of decision making and problem solving

1. Identify goal(s)2. Analyze the problem3. Establish criteria4. Generate solutions5. Evaluate solutions and make final decision

Explain the differences between the major forms of decision-making (majority rule, minority rule, and consensus).What are the advantages and disadvantages of the major forms of decision-making (majority rule, minority rule, and consensus)?Majority rule; ADVANTAGES: efficiency, provides rapid closure on relatively unimportant issues, can break a deadlock, once a majority emerges the decision is madeDISADVANTAGES: sometimes support preposterous, unethical positions, may encourage dominance power dynamic within a group, and may make decisions too quicklyMinority Rule; DISADVANTAGES: expert can ignore group input; members may engage in power plays, members will likely have weak commitment to the final decisionConsensus: state of mutual agreement among members of a group where all legitimate concerns of individuals are addressed to the satisfaction of the groupADVANTAGES: requires full discussion, team members likely to be committed to final decision, produces group satisfactionDISADVANTAGES: difficult to achieve, the larger the group the more difficult it is to achieveWhat is groupthink? How might groupthink be avoided?Group think: a process of stressing cohesiveness and agreement instead of skepticism and optimum decision makingA group climate that encourages robust discussion of opposing views

Public SpeakingChapter 12: Preparing SpeechesWhat are the components of audience analysis (demographics, values, beliefs, & attitudes)?Attitude: a learned predisposition to respond favorably or unfavorably toward some attitude objectBelief: what a person thinks is true or probableValue: the most deeply felt, generally shared view of what is deemed goodDemographics: characteristics such as age, gender, culture and ethnicity, and group affiliations What elements of speech making are influenced by audience analysis (preparation and presentation)?

Define the general purpose, specific purpose, and central idea in public speaking.General purpose: identifies the overall goal of your speech; it tells the audience why you are giving the speechCentral idea: identifies the main concept, point, issue, or conclusion you want the audience to understand, believe, or feelSpecific purpose statement: a concise, precise infinitive phrase composed of simple, clear language that encompasses both the general purpose and the central idea and indicated what the speaker hopes to accomplish with the speechWhat should be considered when choosing a topic (speaker, subject, and person addressed)?Does the topic work for you (the speaker)?Is it suitable for the Listeners?Does it fit the event?How does one avoid plagiarism?

What are the types of supporting materials used in speeches?Examples: hypothetical, real, extendedStatisticsTestimony of AuthoritiesWhat are the criteria for evaluating supporting material?Credibility: evidence used to support claims

Reliability: consistencyValidity: accuracy

What are the basic elements of a competent outline (symbols, coherence, completeness, balance, and division)?I MAIN POINT

A PRIMARY SUBPOINT1 SECONDARY SUBPOINT

A TERTIARY SUBPOINTCoherence: logical consistency and clarityCompleteness: Using complete sentences in an outline proves to be more successfulBalance: every main point should be relatively balanced throughout your speechDivision: Divide main points into sub pointsIdentify the organizational pattern used in speeches (topical, spatial, causal, chronological, problem-solution, and Monroe’s Motivated Sequence)?Topical: By the subjectsChronological: according to timeSpatial: According to spaceCasual: Who or what is responsibleProblem- Solution: Meeting needsProblem- Cause- Solution: Knowing How and Why and Meeting NeedsMonroe’s Motivated Sequence

1. attention2. need3. satisfaction4. visualization5. action

Chapter 13: Presenting SpeechesWhat is speech anxiety?Dysfunctional: when intensity of fight or flight response prevents a person from giving a speech effectivelyFunctional: when the fight or flight response is managed and stimulates optimum presentationWhat are some guidelines for managing speech anxiety?Prepare and PracticeRational thinkingNoncompetitive communicating orientationVisualize successRational Reappraisal What are the critical elements of a speech introduction?Attention getterClear purpose statementEstablish Topic Significance (Why should the audience care?)Preview the Main PointsWhat are the critical elements of a speech conclusion?Summarize main pointsRefer to IntroductionMemorable Finish

What is the difference between oral and written styles of speech making?Written style is more formal, has more complex sentencesOral style is highly interactiveWhat impact do various delivery considerations have on an audience (eye contact, vocal variety, verbal fluency, poise, dynamism)?Eye contact: helps you gain and maintain audience attention

Explain the differences between the major delivery styles (manuscript, memorized, extemporaneous, and impromptu).Manuscript: read the speech straight off a piece of paper word for word; usually lacks eye contactMemorized:Extemporaneous: Give speech based off of a basic outlineImpromptu: A speech given with no preparingChapter 14: Informative SpeakingWhat distinguishes informative speaking from persuasive speaking? Informative speaking is meant to teach and present the facts about a topicPersuasive speaking has a goal of causing some sort of actionWhat is a transition? Connects what was said to what will be saidWhat is necessary for an appropriate or effective oral citation?

What are the types of visual aids that can be used during a speech?Graphs, Objects, Models, Maps, Tables, Photographs, DrawingsWhat are guidelines for the competent usage of visual aids?Hide the aid when not using itKeep aids simpleMake sure they are visible by everyoneMake aids neat and attractiveDon’t block audience viewKeep aids close to youPractice with aidsDon’t circulate AidsAnticipate problemsChapter 15: Persuasive SpeakingDefine persuasion.Persuasion: a communication process of converting, modifying, or maintaining the attitudes or behaviors of othersWhat are the primary dimensions of credibility (competence trustworthiness, dynamism, and composure)?Credibility: judgments made by a perceiver concerning the believability of a communicator

Competence: audience’s perception of the speaker’s knowledge and experience on a topicTrustworthiness: how truthful or honest we perceive the speaker to beDynamism: the enthusiasm and energy exhibited by the speakerComposure: a speaker’s emotional stability, confidence, and degree of control over him or her self when under stress

Define the three Aristotelian modes of proof (ethos, logos, and pathos).Ethos: good sense, good moral character, and good willLogos: building arguments based on logic and evidencePathos: emotional appealsIdentify propositions of fact, value and policy.Proposition: primary, overriding claim of a persuasive speech

Fact: alleges the truth

Policy: calls for significant change of how problems are currently handledValue: a judgment that assesses the worth or merit of an idea

Chapter 3: Culture and GenderDefine what culture is.Culture: a learned set of enduring values, beliefs, and practices that are shared by an identifiable large group of people with a common historyExplain how culture influences communication.

Define ethnocentrism, cultural relativism, and multiculturalism.Ethnocentrism: the notion that one’s own culture is superior to any other, it is the idea that other cultures should be measured by the degree to which they live up to our cultural standardsCultural relativism: views cultures as merely different, not deficientMulticulturalism: social- intellectual movement that promotes the value of diversity as a core principle and insists that all cultural groups be treated with respect and as equalsExplain the major differences between individualistic and collectivistic cultures.

Individualist culture Collectivist culture-me orientation-individuals see themselves as loosely linked to each other and largely independent of group identification-motivated by their own preferences, needs, and goals-personal achievement and initiative are stressed-emphasis placed on self: self sufficiency, self actualization, and personal growth

-we orientation-individuals see themselves as being closely linked to one or more groups-downplay personal goals in favor of advancing goals of a valued group

Explain the major differences between low-power distance and high power-distance cultures.Power distance dimension: variations in the acceptability of unequal distribution of power in relationships, institutions, and organizationsLow: horizontal culture: values relatively equal power sharing and discourage attention to status differences and ranking in societyHigh: vertical culture: relatively strong emphasis on maintaining power differencesExplain the major differences between feminine and masculine cultures.Masculine- feminine dimension: the intersection of gender and culture apparent from gender role stereotypes serve as a basis for a third deep structural valueMasculine culture: exhibits stereotypic masculine traits such as male dominance, ambitiousness, assertiveness, competitiveness, and drive for achievement; gender roles are rigid and distinct in masculine culturesFeminine culture: exhibits stereotypic feminine traits such as affection, nurturance, sensitivity, compassion, and emotional expressiveness; gender roles are less rigid and more overlappingHow does culture influence nonverbal communication?

Chapter 4: LanguageExplain the nature of phonemes, morphemes, syntax, and semantics and their relationship to languages.Phonemes: individual units of sound that compose a specific spoken languageMorphemes: smallest unit of meaning in languageSyntax: rules that govern combining words into phrases and phrases into sentencesSemantics: set of rules that governs the meaning of words and sentences

Define the four essential elements of all languages (structure, productivity, displacement, and self-reflexiveness).Structure: phonemes, morphemes, syntax, semanticsSymbols: arbitrary representations of objects, events, ideas, or relationshipsReferents: objects, events, ideas, or relationships referred to by wordsProductivity: capacity of language to transform a small number of phonemes into whatever words, phrases, and sentences that you require communicating your abundance of thoughts and feelings; allows you to express an infinite number of thoughts and feelings in a variety of waysDisplacement: your ability to use language to talk about objects, events, ideas, and relations that don’t exist in the physical here and now ex. UnicornsSelf-reflexiveness: ability to use language to talk about languageExplain the abstracting process (sense experience, description, inference, and judgment).Abstracting: process where we formulate increasingly vague conceptions of our world by leaving out details associated with objects, events, and ideasSense Experience: Description: verbal reports that sketch what we perceive from our sensesInference: conclusions about the unknown based on the knownJudgments: subjective evaluations of objects, events, or ideasExplain the two versions of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.Sapir-Whorf hypothesis: 1. Claims we are prisoners of our native language, unable to think certain thoughts or perceive in certain ways because of the grammatical structure and lexicon of our language (linguistic determinism)2. Claims that grammar and lexicon of our native language powerfully influences but does not imprison our thinking and perception (linguistic relativity)Explain how connotative meaning differs from denotative meaning.Connotation: personal meaning; the volatile, individual, subjective meaning of a wordThree dimensions: evaluation, potency, and activityDenotation: shared meaning; objective meaning of words commonly agreed to by members of a speech community and usually found in the dictionaryWhat is the difference between a fact and an inference?

What are jargon and euphemisms?Jargon: specialized language held by every profession, trade, or groupEuphemism: form of linguistic Novocain where word choices numb us to or camouflage unpleasant or offensive realitiesChapter 5: Nonverbal CommunicationWhat are the differences between verbal and nonverbal channels of communication?Verbal communication is single channeledNonverbal communication is multi channeled

Multi channel adds impact of believability of a messageWhat are the functions of nonverbal communication (repetition, substitution, regulation, contradiction, accentuation)?Repetition: Consistency of verbal and nonverbal communication (ex. Saying yes and nodding head)Increases clarity and credibility of your messageSubstitution: Nonverbal cues can substitute for verbal messages (ex. Yawn= I’m tired)Regulation: conversation is regulated by nonverbal cues (ex. Long pause at the end of sentences=shift in speaker)

Contradiction: verbal messages can be contradicted by non verbal messagesMixed message: inconsistencies between verbal and non verbal messages

Accentuation: nonverbal communication can add emphasis where you want it Explain the major types of nonverbal communication (kinesics, paralanguage, territoriality, proxemics, and haptics).Kinesics: study of both facial communications and gestures Haptics: study of touchParalanguage: vocal cuesProxemics: influence of distance and spaceTerritoriality: predisposition to defend a fixed geographic area, or territory, as one’s exclusive domainChapter 6: Listening to OthersDefine listening by its basic elements (comprehending, retaining, and responding).Listening: the process of receiving, constructing meaning from, and respond to spoken and/ or nonverbal messages

Comprehension: shared meaning between or among parties in a transactionRetainingResponding

What are the types of listening (informational, critical and empathic)?Informational: attempts to comprehend the message as a speakerCritical: process of evaluating the merits of claims as they are heardEmpathetic: requires you to take on the perspective of the other personWhat are the most common problems that thwart competent informational listening (conversational narcissism, competitive interrupting, glazing over, pseudo-listening, and ambushing)?Conversational narcissism: tendency of listeners to turn topics of ordinary conversations to themselves without showing interest in others’ topicsCompetitive interrupting: when we dominate the conversation by seizing the floor from others who are speakingGlazing over: occurs when listeners’ attention wanders and daydreaming occursPseudo-listening: pretend listeningAmbushing: occurs when we listen for weaknesses and ignore strengths of a speaker’s messageWhat are the most common listener response styles used in empathic listening?Empathetic response styles: Probing response: seeks information from others by asking questionsSupporting response: includes expressions of care, concern, affection, and interest, especially during times of stress or upsetUnderstanding response: requires a listener to check his or her perceptions for comprehension of the speakers message or to paraphrase the message to check accuracyNon empathetic response styles:Evaluating response: makes a judgment about a persons conductAdvising response: tells people how they should actInterpreting: we express what we think is the underlying meaning of a situation presented to usContent- Only: comprehends literal meaning of messages from other but does not recognize the feelings that go with itChapter 7: PowerDefine power.Power: the ability to influence the attainment of goals sought by you and others

Explain the difference between assertiveness and aggressiveness.Aggression: any physical or verbal communication that is intended to inflict harmAssertiveness: the ability to communicate the full range of your thoughts and emotions with confidence and skillWhat are the major power resources (expertise, legitimate authority, reward, punishment, personal qualities)?

How is power indicated in communication (verbally and nonverbally)?

Chapter 9: Interpersonal Conflict ManagementDefine conflict.Conflict: the expressed struggle of interconnected parties who perceive incompatible goals and interference from one or more parties in attaining those goalsDifferentiate between destructive and constructive conflict.Destructive conflict: characterized by:-Escalation-Retaliation-Domination-Competition-Defensiveness-Inflexibility-Me oriented-Cross Complaining

Constructive conflict: characterized by:-Cooperation-Supportive-Flexible-De-escalation-Negotiation-Dialogue-We orientedFocus on achieving a solution that is mutually satisfactory to all parties in the conflict

Define the five most common conflict negotiation strategies (accommodating, avoiding, controlling, compromising, and collaborating).Accommodating: yielding to the needs and desires of othersAvoiding: ignoring conflictCompromising: giving up something to get somethingCollaboration: working together to maximize attainment of goals for all parties in a conflictControlling: